Parker is THREE!

I can't believe it, but it's true! Parker is three years old! We celebrated over several days and had so much fun! We had a party with his friends on Thursday. We had pizza, decorated cupcakes and despite a few bonked heads and a bloody nose, I think the kids had fun. The next day was his birthday and he finally got his 'wain wacks' (train tracks) that he has been asking for for months now. He and Daddy had a great time setting it up and he loves playing with it. On Sunday we had family over for cake and ice cream. He wanted a Lightning McQueen cake and after looking at a couple different versions, I decided to give cake decorating a try. I think it turned out pretty well considering it was my first time! When he took his cousins into the kitchen to show them the cake he said, "Isn't that so cool? My mom built it for me!" I was so happy that he liked it! Eventually I am hoping to get around to scrapbooking his 3rd birthday (still working on his first year book!) so I am including things I want to remember about him at three years old!
37 1/4 inches tall
32 pounds
size 12 shoes (big feet!)
counts to 13
sings his ABC's
recognizes several letters
knows most shapes and colors
Loves any toy that has to do with the movie Cars, trains, Handy Manny and Toy Story
Loves watching Playhouse Disney in the morning
Loves building with blocks
Potty trained (except at night time)
Wants to go potty all by himself
Starting to get into puzzles and playing games (memory and Uno)
Loves playing with friends (still working on sharing and playing nice)
Loves Mario Kart and Wii Sports on Aunt Heather's Wii
Loves his cousins and tells me he wants to go their house almost every day
Still attached to his blue blankie
Still a thumb sucker
Is obsessed with the moon
Wants Mommy to tuck him in most nights, but sometimes asks for Daddy
He randomly gives us kisses on whatever part of our body is closest to him: arm, leg, back etc.
Some of the things he says:
How 'bout that!
Will you just think about it?
Wanna do something fun?
Isn't that so cool?
Ok, that will be great!
Whenever he hears us ask each other what day it is he always says, "It's the 17th!" We don't know why

Leave it to boys to turn balloons into weapons!

The birthday boy enjoying a cupcake

Opening presents

Opening his train tracks!

He was so happy when we finally got it set up!

The McQueen race track cake

Getting ready to blow out the candle

Scentsy Giveaway at the R house!

We all love Scentsy! Go check out THIS awesome giveaway! You could win a Holly warmer, so cute and three Scentsy bars! Good luck!

GO UTES!

We didn't get our MUSS tickets this year, so we were really going through withdrawals not going to all the home games this season. Bryan told me he would really like to go to at least one game as a family. I got online to see how much tickets would be and it was not cheap! I told him they could be an early (and only) birthday present. So after the craziness of Super Sat, I hurried home to change, pack some snacks for Parker and we headed to Rice Eccles. The weather was really good for the first week of Nov. We didn't get too cold, we didn't get wet which is always a plus and the Utes won! Parker was really good and loved cheering and stomping his feet for the 3rd down jump! We went to Carl's Jr. after for dinner and let Parker play for a while. It was a fun time together as a family and a great way to celebrate Bryan's birthday a little early!

Yelling, "GO UTES!"

Doing the 3rd down stomp!

Trying to stay warm with Daddy

Halloween

Well, for people who really don't like Halloween, we did a lot this year! We attended the ward party, which Parker refused to dress up for. There was a Utah game that day, so he had on his jersey and I had on my Utah gear as well. Bryan went to the game, so he was all decked out in red. Bryan's parents decided to dress up as Utah fans for their costumes, so everyone just thought we had coordinated and that was his costume. We took Parker trick or treating at Grandma Smart's care facility. After I tried for an hour to convince him to wear his costume, Bryan bribed him with Mario Kart and he immediately agreed! I took Parker to trunk or treat at the church and Matt and Vicki joined us. In between all of that, we moved some of my mom's stuff out of our basement (she has moved back to Idaho) played in the snow and raked leaves. I have way too many pictures but I will try to narrow it down so you don't have to scroll through them for an hour! Enjoy!

popping bubbles with his friends at the ward party

playing in the snow

Trick or treating at Great Grandma's

Here we are with Grandma in her room

Throwing leaves at Mommy

Trunk or treating

Cute little dinosaur and frog!

What a day!

Friday was a great day! I met Mrs. R and Muse IRL! I even convinced Bryan to go with me to The Belle Boutique. They were selling their amazing jewelry from the r house couture and debuting their line of adoption clothing! While Parker was busy smelling everything at the Sentsy tabel, I purchased a shirt for him. As Muse was wrapping it up in this adorable box, Mrs. R said that I was the first person to buy one! (She tweeted, facebooked and blogged about it too!) I thought, well we need a picture of this! It was all very exciting! Then we took Parker to the pumpkin patch and out to lunch. It was a great day hanging out with my boys and meeting a couple of celebrities from the adoption world!

I'll just pick up one of the biggest pumpkins in the patch!

Finally found one, dropped it trying to put it in the wheel barrow!

Then he threw it in!

While Mommy was trying to find her pumpkin, he walked around
picking them up saying, "How 'bout this little guy?"

Parker with his latest 'picture face' cheesy grin and squinty eyes!

Cali Vacation!

Bryan and I went to California with Dustin and Lindsey last week. It was a LONG drive, but we really had so much fun! We saw Gary, Bliss and baby Riley. Then we headed up to LA to Magic Mountain. It was a cold day, but didn't rain on us at least. Bryan and Dustin finally got to ride the Batman roller coaster and actually meet Batman! Very cool! We rode some pretty crazy coasters! Some were too crazy for me like the Tatsu and X2! The next day we went to Knotts Berry Farm. It rained on us for part of the day, but was warmer. The first ride we went on was a wooden coaster called Ghost Rider. We were laughing so hard when we saw our picture, that we just had to buy it! The next day was really rainy, so instead of going back to Knotts for a second day, we drove down to San Diego. The closer we got the nicer the weather got. Thanks to a recommendation from Gary, we went to Point Loma. It was beautiful. We saw anemones and crabs and the weather was warm and sunny! We took a ton of pictures and had a great time! We were so glad to come home to Parker and hope that next time we go, we will be taking him to Disneyland!

The Ghost Rider picture, hilarious right?

The R House WON!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To all of those that joined me in praying for the Redfern family. They won their contested adoption case on Wed! They finalized and filed their adoption decree and have a date set to take their sweet g baby to the temple! The birth father has 30 days to appeal. Go here to read Mrs. R's post about what happened when the judge rendered his decision. Thanks again to everyone who prayed on their behalf. I know they are truly grateful!